Stackable and nestable container

ABSTRACT

A stackable and nestable container of molded construction including a generally horizontally extending rigid peripheral structure having a plurality of sides defining an open top area of fixed dimensions, a plurality of side walls fixed at their upper end portions with respective sides of the peripheral structure and a bottom structure connected with the lower end portions of the side walls between a stacking position wherein the side walls extend vertically downwardly from the peripheral structure so that a plurality of like containers can be stacked one on top of the other during transportation when filled and a nesting position wherein the side walls extend downwardly and inwardly from the peripheral structure so that a plurality of like containers can be nested one within the other during storage and transportation when empty. The bottom, side and top structures of the container when in the stacking position define a containing space of generally rectangular configuration in plan bounded by two parallel ends and two parallel sides of a length approximately twice the length of the ends, the upper and lowe surfaces on the container having three sets of upper and lower stacking elements permitting the container to be mounted in vertically stacked relation with a container disposed thereabove or therebelow in any of the following formations: (1) with the sides and ends thereof in vertical alignment with the sides and ends of the other container, irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacent upper and lower stacking elements interengaged or, (2) ) with either half of said container vertically aligned with either half of a vertically adjacent container and the other half of said container extending horizontally outwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyond either end thereof or either half of either side thereof and with the adjacent upper and lower stakcing elements interengaged.

Unite 1 Mar. 27, 1973 Herolzer [54] STACKABLE AND NESTABLE CONTAINER[75] Inventor: Ralph H. Herolzer, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee:Vanguard Industries, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1971[21] Appl. No; 108,770

[52] US. Cl. .L ..220/97 E [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 21/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..220/97 R, 97 C, 97 D, 97 E, 220/236; 211/126 [56] [ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,581,932 6/1971 Kreeger ..2l l/1263,013,692 12/1961 Chesley ..220/97 D 2,462,693 2/1949 Wabshaw.. ..220/97E 2,513,693 4/1950 Turbyfill .220/97 E X 3,403,808 lO/1968 Armstrong..220/23.6

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Att0rneyCushman, Darby & CushmanABSTRACT A stackable and nestable container of molded constructionincluding a generally horizontally extending rigid peripheral structurehaving a plurality of sides defining an open top area of fixeddimensions, a plurality of side walls fixed at their upper end portionswith respective sides of the peripheral structure and a bottom structureconnected with the lower end portions of the side walls between astacking position wherein the side walls extend vertically downwardlyfrom the peripheral structure so that a plurality of like containers canbe stacked one on top of the other during transportation when filled anda nesting position wherein the side walls extend downwardly and inwardlyfrom the peripheral structure so that a plurality of like containers canbe nested one within the other during storage and transportation whenempty. The bottom, side and top structures of the container when in thestacking position define a containing space of generally rectangularconfiguration in plan bounded by two parallel ends and two parallelsides of a length approximately twice the length of the ends, the upperand lowe surfaces on the container having three sets of upper and lowerstacking elements permitting the container to be mounted in verticallystacked relation with a container disposed thereabove or therebelow inany of the following formations: (1) with the sides and ends thereof invertical alignment with the sides and ends of the other container,irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacent upper and lowerstacking elements interengaged or, (2) with either half of saidcontainer vertically aligned with either half of a vertically adjacentcontainer and the other half of said container extending horizontallyoutwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyond either endthereof or either half of either side thereof and with the adjacentupper and lower stakcing elements interengaged.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures l 8O 85' 70 76 Q62 76 54- VI 52 76 Q54 5% 62 1 78 76 n 7442 L v an PATENTEUHARZYIQB 3 722 735 SHEET 2 OF 4 lamb-1m5::

INVENTOR m a e @ggmow ATTORNEYS STACKABLE AND NESTABLE CONTAINER Thisinvention relates to containers and more particularly to a containerhaving a bottom structure and side walls which are movable with respectto a rigid peripheral top structure between stacking and nestingpositions.

There are many instances where individual articles are most convenientlytransported in containers capable of receiving and supporting a numberof such articles grouped for unitary manual handling at the destinationwhere relatively immediate unloading from the transporting containerstakes place. For example, eggs in cartons of the type sold insupermarkets are usually transported to the supermarket in cratecontainers. The crate containers are usually loaded in vertical stackswithin a truck for transportation to the supermarket and the cratecontainers are unloaded at the destination and then the individualcartons are removed from the crates. When dealing with a product such aseggs in cartons, it is preferable that the container be of rigidconstruction. The cost of rigid containers precludes a throwaway use asis the case with cardboard containers. Where containers must be reusedit is, of course, necessary that they be stored in the supermarket afterbeing emptied and then returned to the poultry house for re-use.Conventional wooden crates are sometimes used. These crates permit amaximum transportation load from the poultry house to the supermarket,however, they present a storage and return space problem because theyare incapable of being stored and transported empty in nested relation.Rigid containers having sloping side walls which permit the nestingrelation for better storage and empty transportation conversely sufferfrom a disadvantage in the loaded transportation function because of thedead space in the load resulting from the slanted walls of thecontainers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container whichachieves the advantages of conventional wooden crates insofar as maximumfilled transportation loads are concerned, while at the same timeobtaining the advantages of convenient storage and empty transportationof nestable containers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a stackableand nestable container of the type described which is capable of beingformed ofa moldable material such as plastic or the like in one-piecerelatively rigid construction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a stackableand nestable container of the type described including a generallyhorizontally extending rigid peripheral structure having a plurality ofsides defining an open top area of fixed dimensions, a bottom structureand a plurality of side walls interconnecting the bottom structure andthe rigid peripheral structure in such a way as to permit the bottomstructure and side walls to move between stacking and nesting positionswithout detrimentally affecting the structural integrity of theperipheral top structure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a stackableand nestable container of the type described which can be moved betweenits stacking and nesting positions in simple fashion.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a stackableand nestable container of the type described in which the bottomstructure and side walls are self-biased to be retained in both thestacking position and the nesting position.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of astackable container having sides of a length approximately twice thelength of the ends and improved upper and lower stacking element meanspermitting said container to be mounted in vertically stacked relationwith a similar container disposed thereabove or therebelow in any one ofthe following formations: (I) with the sides and ends thereof invertical alignment with the sides and ends of the container,irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacent upper and lowerstacking elements interengaged, or (2) with either half of saidcontainer vertically aligned with either half of a vertically adjacentcontainer and the other half of said container extending horizontallyoutwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyond either endthereof or either half of either side thereof and with the adjacentupper and lower stacking elements interengaged.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of astackable and nestable container of the type described which is simplein construction and operation, economical to manufacture and durable inoperation.

These and other objects of the present invention will become moreapparent during the course of the following detailed description andappended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the drawingswherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a stackable and nestable containerembodying the principles of the present invention showing the same inits stacking position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the container showing the same inits nesting position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line7-7 of FIG. 1, illustrating one stacking relation of two like containersembodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating thenesting relationship between two like containers embodying theprinciples of the present invention at a position thereon correspondinggenerally to the position indicated at 8-8 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating thenesting relationship between two like containers embodying theprinciples of the present invention at a position thereon correspondinggenerally to the position indicated at 7-7 in FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to thedrawings, there is shown therein astackable and nestable container, generally indicated at 10, embodyingthe principles of the present invention. In general, the container 10includes a generally horizontally extending rigid peripheral structure,generally indicated at 12, a bottom structure, generally indicated at14, and a plurality of side wall structures, generally indicated at 16,interconnected between the peripheral structure 12 and the bottomstructure 14. The essential characteristic of the container of thepresent invention is that the peripheral structure 12 is an integralrelatively rigid structure providing structural integrity to thecontainer where most needed, and the bottom and side-wallstructures l4and 16 are movable between a stacking position in which the side wallstructures extend vertically downwardly from the peripheral structureand the bottom structure extends generally horizontally inwardly fromthe side wall structures so that a plurality of like containers can bestacked one on top of the other, as shown in FIG. 7, and a nestingposition in which the side wall structures extend downwardly andinwardly from the peripheral structure permitting a plurality of likecontainers to be nested one within the other, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The preferred embodiment of the container 10 shown in the drawings isformed of a moldable plastic material in a one-piece construction, thespecific material of the preferred embodiment being polypropylene. Inaccordance with conventional molding procedures, the componentstructures of the container 10 are formed of ribbed thin wall sectionsfor the purpose of obtaining maximum strength with a minimum ofmaterial. The peripheral top structure is formed with four sidesincluding two parallel short sides 18 and two parallel long sides 20,all of which are integrally interconnected to form a relatively rigidstructure. As shown, the entire peripheral structure is of generallyinverted U-shaped configuration in crosssection except at the centralportion of the sides 18 where the cross-sectional configuration ismodified to accommodate hand openings, in a manner hereinafter morefully described.

The side wall structure 16 of the preferred embodiment includes a pairof spaced relatively short side walls or end walls 22 and a pair ofspaced relatively long side walls 24. The side walls 22 are of identicalconstruction, each being integral at its upper end portion with anassociated side 18 of the peripheral structure 12. The particularconstruction of each side wall shown is in the form of a rectangularpanel having opposite lower corner portions removed therefrom asindicated at 26, the upper edge of the panel being integral with theinner flange of the U-shaped section forming the side of the peripheralstructure. Formed integrally on the outer surface of each side wall is aplurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending ribs 28. Aspreviously indicated, each side wall 22 is formed adjacent its centralupper end portion with a hand opening 30 of generally rectangularconfiguration, the vertical surfaces of which are defined by a pair ofrelatively short ribs 28 and the horizontal surfaces of which aredefined by a pair of horizontally extending ribs 32. In this regard, itwill be noted that the upper horizontal rib 32 forms a part of theperipheral structure 12 which replaces the outer leg of theU-shaped'cross-sectional configuration previously described. As shown,the horizontal rib 32 and associated bight portion of the peripheralstructure are strengthened by suitable webs, cross ribs or the like. Theportion of the side wall defined by the vertical ribs 28 preferably havevertically elongated openings 34 formed therein which serve to minimizematerial without sacrificing strength.

Except for the hand openings 30, the long side walls 24 preferablyembody a structure essentially the same as the side walls 22. Thus, eachside wall 24 includes cut-off corners 36, vertically extending ribs 38and vertically elongated openings 40.

The bottom structure 14 is made up of a plurality of relatively movableportions including a first pair of marginal portions 42, each of whichis integrally united with the lower end portion of an associated sidewall 22; as shown, each marginal portion 42 extends generallyperpendicularly inwardly from the associated side wall and terminates inan inner edge structure indicatedat 44. A second pair of similarmarginal portions 46 is integrally united with the lower end portions ofthe side walls 24 and provides similar inner edge structures 48. Thebottom structure 14 also includes a central portion 50 providing opposedparallel pairs of outer edge structures 52 and 54 disposed in parallelrelation to the edge-structures 44 and 48 respectively.

Extending between each pair of corresponding edge structures 44 and S2is a connecting portion 56 providing an outer edge structure 58 of asize complementary to the adjacent inner edge structure 44 and an inneredge structure 60 of a sizecomplementary with the adjacent outer edgestructure 52. Each connecting portion 56 is hingedly or pivotallyconnected with an associated marginal portion 42 for pivotal movementabout an axis extending along the upper surfaces of the associated edgeportions 44 and 58. In the preferred embodiment this pivotalinterconnection is effected by an integral web of plastic material,indicated at 62. Each connecting portion 56 is hingedly or pivotallyconnected to the central portion 50 for movement about an axis extendingalong the lower surfaces of the adjacent edge structure 52 and 60. Hereagain, in the preferred embodiment shown the hinge connection is formedby an integral web of plastic material, indicated at 64. While integralhinges are preferred, the invention contemplates the utilization ofother types of hinges such as piano hinges and the like.

A second pair of connecting portions 66, similar in nature to theconnecting portions 56,is associated with and hingedly connected betweenthe parallel end edges 48 and 54. Thus, each connecting portion 66includes an outer edge structure 68, an inner edge structure 70, anouter integral hinging web portion 72 and an inner integral hinging webportion 74.

It can thus be seen that the bottom structure 14 is integrally connectedwith the lower end portions of the side walls 22 and 24 and includes aplurality of portions which are movable relative to each other with theside walls between a stacking position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and5, and a nesting position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. Where thecontainer is molded of one-piece construction, as with the preferredembodiment, the formation of the container 10 within the mold is withthe side walls and bottom structure disposed in the nesting position.The formation of the container in this position insures that thecontainer will be self-biased to remain in this position through thewell-known phenomena commonly referred to as plastic memory.

The container is moved out of the nesting position into the stackingposition by manually pressing downward on the central portion of thebottom structure or by gripping the container through the hand holes 30and giving the container a short,jerking movement downwardly. Theessential functional characteristic of the edge structures of thevarious bottom portions is to provide stop surfaces which interengagewhen the bottom structure is in its stacking position and to preventmovement of the bottom structure in a direction toward the stackingposition to a position beyond the stacking position. The edge structuremay take different forms so long as the stop function is provided. Asshown, all of the edge structures except the outer edge structures 58and 68 of the connecting portions 56 and 66, are in the form ofcontinuous downwardly extending flanges, strengthened in appropriatespace locations by generally coextensive strengthening ribs. The edgestructures 58 and 68 are formed by the outer edge of angularly dependentflanges strengthened by a plurality of spaced strengthening ribs. Theangular inclination of the edge structures with respect to the upperplanar surfaces of the associated bottom portions is such thatcooperating edge structures when in abutting engagement in the stackingposition defined include angles with the upper planar surfaces which areslightly more than a total of 180.

The rigidity of the bottom structure 14 inthe stacking position isfurther aided by forming each connecting portion 56 with an inner endedge structure 76 and an angularly related outer end edge structure 78.The connecting portions 66 are formed with corresponding inner end edgestructures 80 and outer end edge structures 82. As best shown in FIG. 1,the inner end edge structures 76 and 80 of each pair of adjacentconnecting portions are disposed in interengagement when the containeris in its stacking position with the outer end edge structures 78 and 82of each pair of adjacent connecting portions diverging outwardlytherefrom. These latter edge structures are adapted to interengage tolimit the movement of the container in the direction toward its nestingposition. It will be understood that each pair of cooperating outer endedge structures 78 and 82 are spaced apart slightly in the moldednesting position to permit the formation. It will also be noted that theend edges of the marginal portions 42 and 46 are disposed in alignmentwith the respective edges 78 and 82.

It will be noted that due to the interconnection between the bottomstructure 14 and the lower end portions of the side walls 22 and 24 asthe bottom structure is moved from the nesting position wherein therelatively movable portions thereof are disposed in upwardlyconvex-concave relationship (FIGS. 4 and 6) to the stacking positionwherein they are disposed generally horizontally (FIGS. 3 and 5), theside walls 22 and 24 will be moved from a nesting position wherein theyextend downwardly and inwardly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, into astacking position wherein they extend vertically downwardly, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5. The movement of the side walls is thus essentially apivotal or swinging movement of the lower end portions about an axisextending along the associated side of the peripheral structure. The

memory of the plastic material to return to the position in which it wasmolded, plus the tortional spring effect provided by the rigid nature ofthe peripheral structure including the integrally connected cornersthereof, provides a bias tending to move the side walls inwardly towardthe nesting position when dispose d outwardly in the stacking position.Because of the aforesaid relationship of the stop surfaces provided bythe edge structures of the bottom portions (i.e., slightly more than atotal of the inward bias of the side walls urges the bottom structure 14in a direction to cause interengagement of the stop surfaces and henceto maintain the bottom structure in its stacking position without thenecessity of a load on the bottom structure. In short, the arrangementis such that once the container is moved into its stacking position,while empty, it is self-biased to remain in that position. The tortionalbias provided by the rigid peripheral structure is sufficiently great toovercome the plastic memory bias of the bottom structure to move towardits nesting position. When the container is moved from its stackingposition in a direction toward its nesting position, the over-centerrelationship is substantially immediately reversed and all biasingforces will then tend to move the container into its nesting position.

The arrangement is such that a container 10 supported by itself in thenested position will be moved into its stacked position in response tothe movement of articles into the container into supporting relation tothe central portion of the bottom structure. A relationship of this typecan be beneficial in handling fragile or easily damaged articles, sincethe bottom structure in its nested position is disposed verticallycloser to the open top of the container and due to the biasing effectpreviously described, is essentially resiliently held in such elevatedposition so as to be lowered in response to the accumulation of fragilearticles loaded therein. This function is achieved by the preferredembodiment, although it will be understood that variations in the bottomstructure can be made within the basic principles of the presentinvention without providing this added function. For example, the bottomstructure could be formed by inwardly extending portions rigid with thelower end of each side wall movable radially inwardly and outwardly byany suitable means such as a rotary cam or the like. Moreover, the opennature of the side walls can be eliminated where a closed container isdesired with the corners being closed by flexible material. Theprinciples of the present invention are readily applicable to threesided containers as well as containers having more than four sides.Where the container is to be used as a stackable and nestable binelement, the peripheral structure may include one more side than thenumber of side wall structures.

In order to aid in the stacking function when the container is disposedin its stacking position, there is provided stacking means which, asshown, includes a stacking element 84, in the form of an integralupwardly extending horizontally elongated projection, disposed centrallyon the upper surface of each side 18 of the peripheral structure 12. Inthe preferred embodiment shown, the short sides 18 of the peripheralstructures have a width substantially equal to one-half the width of thelong sides 20. With this preferred arrangement, each long side 20 of theperipheral structure has formed integrally thereon a pair of upstandingstacking elements 82, each stacking element 86 being positionedcentrally within one half of the long side of the peripheral structure.

Referring now more particularlyto FIGS. 2 and 7, the stacking means ofthe present invention preferably includes cooperating lower stackingelements provided in the bottom structure in the form of sockets 88 and90 of a shape to receive the projections forming the upper stackingelements 84 and 86. These stacking element sockets may be provided inany desirable construction and, as shown, are constructed by forming thebottom surface of the marginal portions 42 and 46 with a pair ofspacedflanges interconnected by webs and having strengthening ribs formedthereon.

It will be noted that in order for the stacking element sockets 88 and90 to be disposed in a position of vertical alignment with theprojections 84 and 86, the panel forming each side wall is flaredoutwardly adjacent its lower end portion as best indicated at 92 and 94,FIGS. 3-6. These flared portions are disposed substantially verticallywhen the container is molded.

With the preferred stacking means construction shown and described itwill be noted that the container is capable of being mounted invertically stacked relation with respect to a container 10 of likeconstruction disposed thereabove or therebelow in the stack formation inany one of the following formations: (l) with the sides and ends thereofin vertical alignment with the sides and ends of the other container,irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacent upper and lowerstacking elements interengaged, or (a) with either half of saidcontainer vertically aligned with either half of a vertically adjacentcontainer and the other half of said container extending horizontallyoutwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyond either endthereof or either half of either side thereof and with the adjacentupper and lower stacking elements interengaged.

It will be noted that in the second relationship set forth above, one ofthe stacking projections of the lowermost container in the stackformation will extend across the lower central area of the bottomstructure l4 of the like container disposed thereabove. In order tointerlock two containers of the adjacent layer. Specific examples offormations of this type include (1) horizontal layers form ed of twoside-by-side containers, the sides of each pair of containers inadjacent layers extending at right angles with respect to each other;(2) horizontal layers formed by two side-by-side containers and a thirdcontainer in each layer having one side abutting two aligned ends of theside-by-side containers, the three containers in each layer beingreversed with respect to the three containers in adjacent layers; (3)horizontal layers formed of four containers with adjacent layersincluding either a first pair of side-by-side containers disposed inend-to-end relation to a second pair of side-by-side containers, or afirst pair of side-by-side containers and a container having one sideabutting each of the two pairs of aligned ends.

It will be understood that the above principles of the present inventionrelating to the stacking element construction are not limited in theirapplicability to containers embodying the principles of the presentinvention relating to the movement of the side walls and bottomstructure between stacking and nesting positions. The preferredcontainer 10 described above and illustrated in the drawings embodiesall of these principles. The stacking principles are applicable to othertypes of containers as well. v

It will also be understood that the particular construction of thestacking means is subject to wide variation. For example, the containeritself may include lower stacking means only formed to cooperate withstacking means provided on a separate lid or cover for the open top ofthe container.

, The container 10 of the present invention is also provided withnesting stop means for preventing two or more containers nested onewithin the other from becoming wedged into nesting relation. In thepreferred embodiment shown the upper surfaces of the upper stackingelements 84 and 86 provide upwardly facing nesting stop surfacesprovided by the stacking elements 84 and are adapted to engagedownwardly facing surfaces 96 provided by the lower ribs 38, as shown inFIG. 8, while the upwardly facing nesting stop surfaces provided by thestacking elements 86 are adapted to engage downwardly facing surfaces 98provided by outward extensions of the vertical ribs 38.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that theforegoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described forthe purpose of illustrating the functional and structural principles ofthis invention and is subject to change without departure from suchprinciples. Therefore, this invention includes all modificationsencompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stackable and nestable container comprising a generallyhorizontally extending rigid peripheral structure having a plurality ofsides defining an open top area of fixed dimensions, a plurality of sidewalls, each having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, each ofsaid side walls being connected at its upper end portion with anassociated side of said peripheral structure for movement between astacking position wherein said side wall extends generally verticallydownwardly from the associated side of said peripheral structure and anesting position wherein said side wall extends generally downwardly andinwardly from the associated side of said peripheral structure, a bottomstructure having portions movable relative to each other between astacking position wherein said portions extend in a generally horizontalplane within an area generally equal to said open top area and a nestingposition wherein the horizontal extent of said bottom structure portionsis within an area having corresponding dimensions-less than the fixeddimensions of said open top area, said bottom structure being connectedwith the lower edge portions of said side walls for simultaneousmovement of said side walls and said bottom structure between saidstacking and nesting positions, stacking means for stabilizing aplurality of like containers in vertically stacked formation with theside walls of each container and the bottom structures interconnectedwith the lower edge portions thereof disposed in their stackingpositions, and complementary vertically spaced nesting stop surfacemeans for preventing wedged interengagement of a plurality of likecontainers in nested formation with the side walls of each container andthe bottom structure interconnected with the lower end portions thereofdisposed in their nesting positions.

2. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 1 wherein eachof said side walls is rigidly connected at its upper end portion'withthe associated side of said peripheral structure for resiliently biasedmovement toward said nesting position.

3. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 2 wherein eachof said side walls is of apertured and ribbed thin wall constructionhaving free side edges which extend generally downwardly and inwardly.

4. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 1 wherein saidbottom structure includes a marginal portion rigidly connected with thelower end portion of each side wall and extending inwardly therefrom,each of said marginal portions having an inner side edge structure, agenerally horizontally extending rigid central portion having aplurality of outer side edge structures corresponding in number to thenumber of sides of said peripheral structure and defining an area oflesser dimensions than the fixed dimensions of said open top area, aplurality of rigid connecting portions corresponding in number to thenumber of side walls, each of said connecting portions having inner andouter side edge structures, and means hingedly interconnecting each ofsaid connecting portions to an associated marginal portion and to saidcentral portion operable to position each of said connecting portions(1) in generally horizontally inwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said stacking position with the outerside edge structure thereof abutting the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal portion and the outer side edge structurethereof abutting an associated outer side edge structure of said centralportion and (2) in inwardly and upwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said nesting position with the outerside edge structure thereof spaced from the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal portion and the outer side edge structurethereof spaced from the associated outer side edge structure of saidcentral portion.

5. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 4 wherein saidcontainer is molded of plastic material in a one-piece integralconstruction with said side walls and said bottom structure disposedsubstantially in said nesting position.

6. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 5 wherein saidplastic material is polypropylene.

7. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 1 wherein saidstacking means includes stacking projections extending upwardly fromsaid peripheral structure and stacking recesses complementary to saidstacking projections formed within the periphery of said bottomstructure.

8. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim l wherein saidperipheral structure includes a first pair of sides disposed parallelwith respect to each other and a second pair of sides disposed parallelwith respect to each other and having a length generally twice thelength of said first pair of sides, said stacking means including afirst set of stacking projections extending upwardly from said firstpair of sides between the ends thereof, a second set of stackingprojections complementary to said first set extending upwardly from saidsecond pair of sides at positions within one half the length thereofcorresponding with the positions of said first set of stackingprojections on said first pair of sides, a third set of stackingprojections complementary to said first set extending upwardly from saidsecond pair of sides at positions within the opposite half of thelengths thereof corresponding with the positions of said first set ofstacking projections on said first pair of sides, and a plurality ofcomplementary recesses formed in the periphery of said bottom structureat positions corresponding to all of said stacking projections so as topermit said container to be mounted in vertically stacked relation to alike container disposed thereabove or therebelow in any one of thefollowing vertically stacked formations: (l) with the sides and endsthereof in vertical alignment with the sides and ends of the othercontainer, irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacent upper andlower stacking elements interengaged, or (2) with either half of saidcontainer vertically aligned with either half of a vertically adjacentcontainer and the other half of said container extending horizontallyoutwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyond either endthereof or either half of either side thereof and with the adjacentupper and lower stacking elements interengaged.

9. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 1 wherein saidbottom structure includes a marginal portion rigidly connected with thelower end portion of each of said side walls and extending inwardlytherefrom, each of said marginal portions having an inner side edgestructure, a generally horizontally extending rigid central portionhaving a plurality of outer side edge structures corresponding in numberto the number of sides of said peripheral structure and defining an areaof lesser dimensions than the fixed dimensions of said open top area, aplurality of rigid connecting portions corresponding in number to thenumber of side walls, each of said connecting portions having inner andouter side edge structures, and means hingedly interconnecting each ofsaid connecting portions to an associated marginal portion and to saidcentral portion operable to position each of said connecting portions(1) in inwardly and slightly downwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said stacking position with the outerside edge structure thereof abutting the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal portion and the outer side edge structurethereof abutting an associated outer side edge structure of said centralportion and (2) in inwardly and upwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said nesting position with the outerside edgestructure thereof spaced from the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal portion and the outer side edge structurethereof spaced from the associated outer side edge structure of saidcentral portion, each of said side walls being rigidly connected at itsupper end portion with the associated side of said peripheral structurefor resiliently biased movement toward said nesting position so thatsuch biased movement functions to yieldably maintain said bottomstructure in both said stacking position and said nesting position.

10. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 9 whereinsaid connecting portions include inner and outer end edge structures,adjacent'inner end edge structures of adjacent connecting portionsinterengaging when said bottom structure is disposed in said stackingposition and adjacent outer end edge structures of adjacent connectingportions interengaging when said bottom structure is disposed in saidnesting position.

11. A stackable container comprising bottom, side and top structuresdefining an interior containing space of generally rectangularconfiguration in plan bounded by a pair of parallel ends and a pair ofparallel sides having a length approximately twice the length of saidends, stacking means for enabling said container to be mounted invertically stacked relation with a similar container disposed thereaboveor therebelow in any one of the following formations: (l) with the sidesand ends thereof in vertical alignment with the sides and ends of theother container, irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacentupper and lower stacking elements interengaged, or (2) with either halfof said container vertically aligned with either half of a verticallyadjacent container and the other half of said container extendinghorizontally outwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyondeither end thereof or either half of either side thereof and with theadjacent upper and lower stacking elements interengaged, stacking meanscomprising a first set of complementary upper and lower stackingelements along the upper and lower surfaces thereof adjacent each end ofsaid container, a second set of complementary upper and lower stackingelements along the upper-and lower surfaces thereof at positions withinone half of the length of the sides of said container corresponding withthe positions of said first set of stacking elements on the ends of saidcontainers, and a third set of complementary upper and lower stackingelements along the upper and lower surfaces thereof at positions withinthe opposite half of the sides of said container corresponding with thepositions of said first set of stacking elements on the ends of saidcontainer 12. A stackable container as defined in claim 11 wherein eachof said upper stacking elements comprises a horizontally elongatedprojection extending upwardly from the adjacent upper surface of thecontainer and wherein each of said lower stacking elements comprises ahorizontally elongated recess formed in the adjacent lower surface ofsaid container.

said g

1. A stackable and nestable container comprising a generallyhorizontally extending rigid peripheral structure having a plurality ofsides defining an open top area of fixed dimensions, a plurality of sidewalls, each having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, each ofsaid side walls being connected at its upper end portion with anassociated side of said peripheral structure for movement between astacking position wherein said side wall extends generally verticallydownwardly from the associated side of said peripheral structure and anesting position wherein said side wall extends generally downwardly andinwardly from the associated side of said peripheral structure, a bottomstructure having portions movable relative to each other between astacking position wherein said portions extend in a generally horizontalplane within an area generally equal to said open top area and a nestingposition wherein the horizontal extent of said bottom structure portionsis within an area having corresponding dimensions less than the fixeddimensions of said open top area, said bottom structure being connectedwith the lower edge portions of said side walls for simultaneousmovement of said side walls and said bottom structure between saidstacking and nesting positions, stacking means for stabilizing aplurality of like containers in vertically stacked formation with theside walls of each container and the bottom structures interconnectedwith the lower edge portions thereof disposed in their stackingpositions, and complementary vertically spaced nesting stop surfacemeans for preventing wedged interengagement of a plurality of likecontainers in nested formation with the side walls of each container andthe bottom structure interconnected with the lower end portions thereofdisposed in their nesting positions.
 2. A stackable and nestablecontainer as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said side walls isrigidly connected at its upper end portion with the associated side ofsaid peripheral structure for resiliently biased movement toward saidnesting position.
 3. A stackable and nestable container as defined inclaim 2 wherein each of said side walls is of apertured and ribbed thinwall construction having free side edges which extend generallydownwardly and inwardly.
 4. A stackable and nestable container asdefined in claim 1 wherein said bottom structure includes a marginalportion rigidly connected with the lower end portion of each side walland extending inwardly therefrom, each of said marginal portions havingan inner side edge structure, a generally horizontally extending rigidcentral portion having a plurality of outer side edge structurescorresponding in number to the number of sides of said peripheralstructure and defining an area of lesser dimensions than the fixeddimensions of said open top area, a plurality of rigid connectingportions corresponding in number to the number of side walls, each ofsaid connecting portions having inner and outer side edge structures,and means hingedly interconnecting each of said connecting portions toan associated marginal portion and to said central portion operable toposition each of said connecting portions (1) in generally horizontallyinwardly extending relation when said bottom structure is disposed insaid stacking position with the outer side edge structure thereofabutting the inner side edge structure of the associated marginalportion and the outer side edge structure thereof abutting an associatedouter side edge structure of said central portion and (2) in inwardlyand upwardly extending relation when said boTtom structure is disposedin said nesting position with the outer side edge structure thereofspaced from the inner side edge structure of the associated marginalportion and the outer side edge structure thereof spaced from theassociated outer side edge structure of said central portion.
 5. Astackable and nestable container as defined in claim 4 wherein saidcontainer is molded of plastic material in a one-piece integralconstruction with said side walls and said bottom structure disposedsubstantially in said nesting position.
 6. A stackable and nestablecontainer as defined in claim 5 wherein said plastic material ispolypropylene.
 7. A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim1 wherein said stacking means includes stacking projections extendingupwardly from said peripheral structure and stacking recessescomplementary to said stacking projections formed within the peripheryof said bottom structure.
 8. A stackable and nestable container asdefined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral structure includes a firstpair of sides disposed parallel with respect to each other and a secondpair of sides disposed parallel with respect to each other and having alength generally twice the length of said first pair of sides, saidstacking means including a first set of stacking projections extendingupwardly from said first pair of sides between the ends thereof, asecond set of stacking projections complementary to said first setextending upwardly from said second pair of sides at positions withinone half the length thereof corresponding with the positions of saidfirst set of stacking projections on said first pair of sides, a thirdset of stacking projections complementary to said first set extendingupwardly from said second pair of sides at positions within the oppositehalf of the lengths thereof corresponding with the positions of saidfirst set of stacking projections on said first pair of sides, and aplurality of complementary recesses formed in the periphery of saidbottom structure at positions corresponding to all of said stackingprojections so as to permit said container to be mounted in verticallystacked relation to a like container disposed thereabove or therebelowin any one of the following vertically stacked formations: (1) with thesides and ends thereof in vertical alignment with the sides and ends ofthe other container, irrespective of end-to-end orientation and adjacentupper and lower stacking elements interengaged, or (2) with either halfof said container vertically aligned with either half of a verticallyadjacent container and the other half of said container extendinghorizontally outwardly from said vertically adjacent container beyondeither end thereof or either half of either side thereof and with theadjacent upper and lower stacking elements interengaged.
 9. A stackableand nestable container as defined in claim 1 wherein said bottomstructure includes a marginal portion rigidly connected with the lowerend portion of each of said side walls and extending inwardly therefrom,each of said marginal portions having an inner side edge structure, agenerally horizontally extending rigid central portion having aplurality of outer side edge structures corresponding in number to thenumber of sides of said peripheral structure and defining an area oflesser dimensions than the fixed dimensions of said open top area, aplurality of rigid connecting portions corresponding in number to thenumber of side walls, each of said connecting portions having inner andouter side edge structures, and means hingedly interconnecting each ofsaid connecting portions to an associated marginal portion and to saidcentral portion operable to position each of said connecting portions(1) in inwardly and slightly downwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said stacking position with the outerside edge structure thereof abutting the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal porTion and the outer side edge structurethereof abutting an associated outer side edge structure of said centralportion and (2) in inwardly and upwardly extending relation when saidbottom structure is disposed in said nesting position with the outerside edge structure thereof spaced from the inner side edge structure ofthe associated marginal portion and the outer side edge structurethereof spaced from the associated outer side edge structure of saidcentral portion, each of said side walls being rigidly connected at itsupper end portion with the associated side of said peripheral structurefor resiliently biased movement toward said nesting position so thatsuch biased movement functions to yieldably maintain said bottomstructure in both said stacking position and said nesting position. 10.A stackable and nestable container as defined in claim 9 wherein saidconnecting portions include inner and outer end edge structures,adjacent inner end edge structures of adjacent connecting portionsinterengaging when said bottom structure is disposed in said stackingposition and adjacent outer end edge structures of adjacent connectingportions interengaging when said bottom structure is disposed in saidnesting position.
 11. A stackable container comprising bottom, side andtop structures defining an interior containing space of generallyrectangular configuration in plan bounded by a pair of parallel ends anda pair of parallel sides having a length approximately twice the lengthof said ends, stacking means for enabling said container to be mountedin vertically stacked relation with a similar container disposedthereabove or therebelow in any one of the following formations: (1)with the sides and ends thereof in vertical alignment with the sides andends of the other container, irrespective of end-to-end orientation andadjacent upper and lower stacking elements interengaged, or (2) witheither half of said container vertically aligned with either half of avertically adjacent container and the other half of said containerextending horizontally outwardly from said vertically adjacent containerbeyond either end thereof or either half of either side thereof and withthe adjacent upper and lower stacking elements interengaged, saidstacking means comprising a first set of complementary upper and lowerstacking elements along the upper and lower surfaces thereof adjacenteach end of said container, a second set of complementary upper andlower stacking elements along the upper and lower surfaces thereof atpositions within one half of the length of the sides of said containercorresponding with the positions of said first set of stacking elementson the ends of said containers, and a third set of complementary upperand lower stacking elements along the upper and lower surfaces thereofat positions within the opposite half of the sides of said containercorresponding with the positions of said first set of stacking elementson the ends of said container.
 12. A stackable container as defined inclaim 11 wherein each of said upper stacking elements comprises ahorizontally elongated projection extending upwardly from the adjacentupper surface of the container and wherein each of said lower stackingelements comprises a horizontally elongated recess formed in theadjacent lower surface of said container.